CONFERENCES
E&PDE 2026 - 28th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education
The Conference will bring together representatives from education and industry interested in sharing new perspectives on design education.
Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
TRANSITIONING TO REGENERATIVE DESIGN: LEARNING BEYOND TRADITIONAL EDUCATION
Groleger, Pia; Predan, Barbara
Type:
Year:
2026
Editor:
Buck, Lyndon; Brisco. Ross; Bohemia, Erik
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Institution:
University of Ljubljana, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Slovenia
Page(s):
350 - 355
DOI number:
ISBN:
978-1-912254-24-8
ISSN:
3005-4753
Abstract:
Young designers face significant challenges transitioning from academia to professional practice, particularly in the demanding and increasingly vital field of regenerative design. This paper presents a collaborative design practice where students tackled a real-world challenge beyond the traditional educational setting, transforming the experience into both their thesis work and subsequent professional projects. The framework was provided by an open call for the Biennial of Design 27 (BIO27) in Ljubljana, which offered students critical insights and practical knowledge for future careers. Their project, centered on the complex and unfamiliar topic of Water, motivated them to develop a method combining natural processes, vernacular principles, and new technologies into a cohesive solution. This established method was not a one time effort but continues to guide their navigation of diverse and complex projects through multiple iterations in their professional work. By integrating ecological, technological, and vernacular diversity into a single learning framework, the project highlights how alternative educational approaches can equip future designers with the competencies necessary to navigate complex social and ecological realities. It suggests that embracing diverse modes of knowledge production: scientific, local, experiential, and more-than-human, can enrich engineering and product design education and support students in developing the resilience, sensitivity, and adaptability required for contemporary design practice.
Keywords:
